Dev not about to wield the Hampton & Richmond axe

ALAN DEVONSHIRE won't be taking the axe to his Hampton & Richmond squad this summer.

Back-to-back Blue Square South play-off final defeats would prompt many a manager to order a summer clear-out and go in search of that extra something needed to guarantee promotion next time.

However, former West Ham star Devonshire is something of a creature of habit when it comes to signing new players pre-season.

Previous summers at the Beveree paint the 53-year-old as more 'Tinkerman' than 'Axeman' and Devonshire says he doesn't expect this close season to be any different.

He said: "It's always about improving on what you've got.

"I've been here six years and each year we have improved.

"But it has always been a case of about three in and three out with me and I don't expect to see that changing much."

The former England international has learnt the need to be patient at the Beveree. It took three seasons, including a play-off defeat to Fisher Athletic, before Hampton came out of the Ryman Premier League as champions in 2006-7.

He knows too, Hampton are the team their league rivals love to knock and hate and he's not expecting any change there either.

None of that will stop him launching a third attack on the Blue Square South summit.

He added: "It's hard sometimes because the first year people said we were a flash in the pan and that the following year our bubble would burst.

"So every year you have to prove yourself again.

"But teams get promoted on merit and that's exactly what we have to do."